Flood Risk Management Dail Éireann — 2023-10-26 ============================================================ Bernard Durkan (CC), Kildare North I will take an introduction to her question from Deputy Conway-Walsh. I will also take a brief reply. Rose Conway-Walsh (SF), Mayo I appreciate that. There was a bit of a mix-up in the questions. We have talked about flooding all morning. I am looking for an update on the Crossmolina flood relief scheme and when it will commence. I am worried because what I have received from the Department states the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform will give statutory consent to the scheme allowing the project team to bring Crossmolina flood relief forward. The people of Crossmolina are still waiting. There is still information going back and forth with regard to this matter. I am also concerned that the timeframe for the scheme will be four years. That is 48 months. The people of Crossmolina cannot wait that long. Patrick O'Donovan (FG), Limerick County The time for construction is limited by the time we are allowed into rivers. I know, for instance, the Deputy's colleague in the Seanad, Senator Boylan, as the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach referred to, has a particular issue with the Arterial Drainage Act and wants to dismantle it. She wants to dismantle our ability to be able to deliver these schemes. I implore the Deputy to ask her Seanad colleague not to go down that route because it will leave many communities in this country in a very vulnerable situation, including those in areas that have already been catered for under the Arterial Drainage Act and those that will be delivered for under that legislation. Rose Conway-Walsh (SF), Mayo I must respond. The Minister of State knows that is an updating of the 1945 Act. There is too much messing going on here. Crossmolina has waited since 2015 when it was flooded out. The people of that town are now being told in 2023 that it will be 2027 before there is flood relief. Bernard Durkan (CC), Kildare North I thank the Deputy. Rose Conway-Walsh (SF), Mayo It is completely disingenuous of the Minister of State to deflect from that. Bernard Durkan (CC), Kildare North We are over time. Rose Conway-Walsh (SF), Mayo The Minister of State knows that is not the case. Patrick O'Donovan (FG), Limerick County I have been referred to as disingenuous. Bernard Durkan (CC), Kildare North We will allow the Minister of State a quick answer. Rose Conway-Walsh (SF), Mayo The people have been waiting since 2012 and will be waiting until 2027. Patrick O'Donovan (FG), Limerick County For the benefit of the House, I will quote from the record of the Seanad. Rose Conway-Walsh (SF), Mayo The people have been waiting since 2012 and will be waiting until 2027. Bernard Durkan (CC), Kildare North I am sorry, Deputy. Rose Conway-Walsh (SF), Mayo This is completely disingenuous. Bernard Durkan (CC), Kildare North I am sorry, Deputy. Rose Conway-Walsh (SF), Mayo The other Deputy took the time when he was not supposed to. Patrick O'Donovan (FG), Limerick County For the benefit of the House----- Rose Conway-Walsh (SF), Mayo This is too serious a matter. Patrick O'Donovan (FG), Limerick County It is important to point out that the Deputy's Seanad colleague----- Rose Conway-Walsh (SF), Mayo For God's sake. Patrick O'Donovan (FG), Limerick County -----stated: "Ceasing the arterial drainage works would not only benefit biodiversity but would also reduce the risk of flooding in our towns and villages." Rose Conway-Walsh (SF), Mayo Biodiversity is compatible with what needs to be done here. Stop playing games with people. Stop it. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2023-10-26/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:52:21+00:00 Sitting date: 2023-10-26